Region’s swine flu cases fall

Swine flu cases have fallen in the North West for the second week running.

And the number of new cases in England fell from 30,000 to 25,000, with the number of antiviral drugs collected down by half to 1,325.

People calling their GP for advice also fell, from 36 to 33 per 100,000 in Northern England, and assessments by the National Pandemic Flu Service for people in the North West fell by more than half.

The figures, from the Health Protection Agency, also show a fall in the number of people taken into hospital with swine flu — down to 62 from 75 the previous week.

Five of those were classed as critical, which is half the number of the previous week.

A total of 29 had underlying health conditions, down from 34 the previous week.

The majority of people who have so far had swine flu suffered only mild to moderate cold or flu-like symptoms.

Symptoms include the sudden onset of fever, cough or shortness of breath, headache, sore throat, tiredness, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, runny nose or a loss of appetite.

Anyone who thinks they may have contracted the swine flu virus can contact the National Pandemic Flu Service onwww.direct.gov.uk/pandemicfluline at www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu or call 0800-1 513 513 for information or 0800-1 513 100 for treatment.

Anyone who thinks they may have swine flu and also has chronic lung, kidney or heart disease, is over 65 or pregnant, or has a child under five with symptoms, should telephone their own GP instead.